Redknapp claims ‘Spain and Italy would build team around Grealish’

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has urged Gareth Southgate to learn from the mistakes of his predecessors and pick “special talent” Jack Grealish.

Southgate was criticised for sticking with his ‘favourites’ when he named his latest squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Monenegro and Kosovo, with the likes of Ross Barkley and Fabian selected over Grealish in midfield.

The 24-year-old was made club captain by Aston Villa last season and has become a hugely influential player for the club.

And Harry Redknapp has now compared the young Villa skipper to the likes of Peter Osgood and Tony Currie – legendary players famed for their flair on the ball, but who were also criminally overlooked for their country.

The former Premier League manager told TalkSPORT: “I love Grealish, I think he’s got talent.

“If Grealish played in any other country but here he’d be a regular in the national team.

“The Spaniards, Italians… they’d have loved him. He’d be pulling all the strings, they would have almost built a team around him.

“We can go back to so many years ago when you had players like Alan Hudson, Tony Currie, Peter Osgood – these were incredible footballers, but they hardly ever got a cap.

“I think this kid Grealish is the same, he can do special things.

“I’d love to see him play at the top level. He goes by people, he’s makes a pass, he scores a goal.

“I love him, I think he’s a great talent.”